Electric toy trackage



May 30, 1933. L.. G. HANDY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE original Filed Sept.18. 192e Nm, mN

ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED LEVIN GESSFORD HANDY, F MOUNTAINVIEW, NEW JERSEY ELECTRIC TOY TRACKAGE Original application ledSeptember 18, 1926, Serial No. 136,359, new Patent No. 1,753,147, datedApril 1, 1930. Divided and this application led March 31, 1930, SerialNo. 440,246. Renewed October This invention relates to trackage for toyelectric trains, such for instance as is contained in my Patent No.1,636,416, July 19th, 1927, and in my co-pending application Serial No.136,359, iiled September 18, 1926, now Patent No. 1,7 53,147, datedApril 1, 1930, the present application being adivi- Vsion of saidmentioned co-pending application.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means wherebythe passage of a train over a given section or sections of the track maybe made to control the operation of auxiliary devices such as signalsand the like.

A further object is to provide an electric toy track section intended tobe attached. to or removed from track forming relation with otherelectric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section beingconstructed to include improved means whereby the passage of a trainover said section will complete a shunt circuit, in parallel with thetrain circuit, for controlling one or more auxiliary devices.

A further object is to so construct the electric toy section that itwill include a device arranged to be operated by a passing train forcontrolling a shunt circuit in parallel with the train circuit.

A more detailed object is to so construct the electric toy section thatit will include a part arranged to be moved by being engaged by theiiange of a passing car wheel for controlling an electric circuitincluding a signal device, the third rail and one of the wheel bearingrails of the electric toy section.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific thanthose referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed outin the course of the following description of the elements,combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principlesconstituting the invention; and

the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appendedclaims.

ln the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as a part of thisspecication, and in which I have shown merely a preferred form ofembodiment oi the invention Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan viewof anelectric toy track system illustrating the presn ent inventionassociated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the electric toy track sect-ions ofwhich the system Fig. 1 is built, said section being constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken upon the plane ofline lll-III of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticv sectional view corresponding with a portion ofFig. 3 but illustrating a modified arrangement of contact parts.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a further modifiedarrangement of contact parts.

Referring to the drawing for describing in detail the structureillustrated therein, the reference characters L and G indicate the twometallic wheel bearing rails of an electric toy track section, and thereference character H indicates the intermediate or third metallic railof said section. These three separate rails are connected together bycross tie means, such as the three metallic cross ties 1, 2 and 3 asillustrated.

The intermediate or third rail is insulated from the other rails andfrom the cross ties by insulating members 4 4-4 as is customary. n

The wheel bearing rails L and G as shown are not insulated from thecross ties. They are held in metallic contact with said cross ties as bymeans ofthe tangs 5-5 provided upon the cross ties for this purpose andhence are in constant electrical connection with said cross ties. Y

Each of the rails L, G and H is provided with connecting means at itsopposite ends by which it may be readily mechanically and electricallyconnected intrack forming'relation with aligned rails of adjacent othertoy track sections. As an illustration of means for this purpose thedrawing herewith shows said rails to lbe formed with sockets at theirends and metallic pins 6-6 for engaging in said sockets, said pins beingadapted to eX- tend into similar sockets provided in the aligned railsof adjacent other toy track sections.

The track system illustrated in Fig. 1 is made up of a series of toyelectric track sections constructed as thus described, said sectionsbeing connected together end to end in a well known manner. A source ofelectrical energy is indicated at 7 with a conductor 8 leading from oneside thereof to the third rail of the system, and with a conductor as 9:trom its opposite side connected with the two wheel bearing rails ofthe system, it being noted that although the conductor 9 is shown inFig. 1 as having direct connection with both of the wheel bearing railsit is usually suflicient to connect said conductor directly with onlyone of said rails, the current being fed to the other wheel bearing railthrough the several metallic cross ties which provide a metallic bondbetween the wheel bearing rails as above explained.

ln Fig. 1 a signal device to be operated by a passing train is indicatedat l0, and an electric toy section constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is shown at 11. A

.conductor 12 extends from a part of the section 11 to the signal 10 anda second conductor, as 13, connects the opposite side of the signaldevice with the wheel bearing rail G of the section.

A train is indicated as travelling along the system said train havingWheels 14 riding upon the wheel bearing rails L and G and having acontact shoe 15 riding upon the third rail, the shoe being connected toone side of a train propelling motor 16, the opposite side of the motorbeing mounted upon the trame as 17 of the train and hence upon all ofthe wheels of the trainand upon the wheel bearing rails Land G.

The propelling circuit for the train is of the usual type well known inthis art, namely, from source 7 through conductor 8 to the third, orpower, rail, through the shoe 15 and motor 16 to ground upon the frameof the train and back to the opposite side of the source through thewheel bearing or ground rails L and G.

A shunt circuit through the signal device 10 is closed as soon as one ofthe wheels of the train rides into engagement with the portion 11 of thepresent attachment, said shunt circuit being in parallel with the traincircuit as follows: From source 7 along the I third rail to the contactdevice 18 through said contact device and along conductor 12 to thesignal device 10 and back by way of conductor 13 to the wheel bearingrail G and thence by way of said wheel bearing rail hack to the oppositeside of the source.

rThe detailed construction and arrangement of parts of the presentimproved section including the contact device 18; may now be readilyunderstood as follows: The portion 17 is a strip of insulating materialwhich extends longitudinally of the toy section closely adjacent one ofthe wheel bearing rails for instance the rail G, being in position to beengaged by the flange as 19 of one of the wheels 14 of the train. t iscarried upon one or more spring arms as 20-20 and is adapted to bedepressed by the wheel lange from the position indicated in full linesto the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. One or both of thespring arms 2O is electrically connected with the third rail H beingpref erably soldered thereto as indicated at 21 and when the member 17is depressed by the car wheel flange it carries a portion of .the springarm or armsl downwardly into electrical en* gagement with a contact as22. The contact 22 is miounted upon an insulating base as 23. Where twospring arms are employed, as indicated in the drawing the contact 22 mayconsist of a strip of metal extending longi* tudinally of the toysection from one of said spring arms to the other and there may be twoof the insulating base pieces 23 for its support.

Two binding posts as 24 and 25 are provided mounted upon one of theinsulating pieces, the post 24 being connected with one of the wheelbearing rails as for instance the rail G, as by a conductor 2G and thepost 25 being connected with the contact member or members 22 by meansof a conductor 27.

It will be appraent from this descrip tion of detail that as soon as acar wheel traversing rail G moves onto the insulating strip 17 it willdepress said strip so as to complete an electrical connection betweenthe third, or power, rail H and the contact 22, and of course outwardlyfrom said contact by way of conductor 27 binding post 25 and conductor12 to the signal or like device 10 and back through conductor 13 bindingpost 24 and conductor 12 to the rail G. rl`his circuit will continue aslong as the car wheel remains upon the strip 17 but will be broken againas soon as the strip 17 is free to spring back to its normal position. l

The contact 22 is preferably of a resilient character so that it will beadapted to yield to a greater or less extent when pressed against by theupper contacts, that is by the spring ingers 20.

In the modification Fig. 4 the structure is substantially the sante asabove described except that in this instance a contact spring arm as 28is provided in lieu of the contact parts heretofore described andarranged to be pressed directly against the rail G hy the weight of thepassing car wheel. A conductor as 29 leads from this spring arm to oneof the binding posts, and a second conductor as 30 provides electricalconnection between the third rail and the other binding post. When atrain passesover this structure the weight of the car pressing againstthe contact 28 will move said contact into engage* CLI ment with therail@ and the shunt circuit will extend from rail irl along conductor 30to the signal device and back along conductor 29 to the contact 2S andinto rail lt may be noted that actual contact ot the member Q8 with therail G is not essential since said member 28 will be in engagement withthe car wheel and through said wheel to ground on the train and thenceinto either or both of the wheel bearing rails and back to the source asheretofore. The insulating support or base 23 in this structure, as wellas in the structure Figs. l to 3, extends to engage the rails G and Hand to thereby utilize both of these rails in holding itself and thecontact parts in proper relacion to said rails and to the car partsmoving along said rails. The insulating sup-port servesin ee'ct as aspacer between the rails and parts of opposite polarity, so that noelectrical connection or short circuit can at any time occur betweensaid rails and said parts of opposite polarity.

In the modiiication Fig. 5 the structure is similar to that illustratedin Fig. l except that in this instance the contact spring arm or stripas 3l is connected directly with the track rail G instead ot beingcarried by separate insulating base or carrying plate 23. Suitableinsulation, as m is provided between the strip andthe rail and saidinsulation and strip are firmly fixed to the rail so that the strip iscarried by said rail as a part thereof in insulated relation thereto.The upper part of the strip 3l is formed 'to provide a portion as 33directly overlying the upper surface of the rail. A passing car wheelwill ride upon the upper surface of portion 33 and will thus makeelectrical contact therewith.

It desired the material of the strip 31 may be suitably resilient sothat While the portion 33 will stand normally spaced a slight distanceabove the upper surface of the rail G and thus. out of electricalcontact therewith yet said portion 38 will readily yield and press intodirect electrical engagement against the rail under the weight of thepassing train. As soon as the train has moved off of the portion 33 saidportion will again rise to its normal position out of electricalengagement with the rail.

Electric conductors 29 and 30 connect the two binding posts with therail H and the contact arm or strip 3l, and the circuits Jfor operatingthe signal are substantially the same as described with respect to Fig.4.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingfrom the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims, itis intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shownin the accompanvi O' drawing, shall be interpreted as illus tive onlyand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. As an article of manufacture, an electrictoy track section intended to be attached to or removed from trackforming relation with other electric toy track sections in the usualmanner, said section being made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and anintermediate insulated third rail with cross-tie means b y which all ofthe rails are mechanically connected together for unit-ary handling, thethird rail being adapted to carry one side ofan electric train circuitand at least one of the wheel bearing rails being adapted to carry theopposite side ot said circuit, said two mentioned rails each beingelectrically continuous from end to end ot the toy section adaptedthereby for continuous propulsion of a train over said section, acontactmember arranged adjacent said rails, a second vcontact memberelectrically connected with one of said rails and being movable into andout of engagement with the lirst contact memb r means whereby the )firstcontact mem- Jer and a rail which carri the side of the ircuit oppositeto that carried by the rail to which the second mentioned contact memberis connected may be electrically connected with opposite sides ot asignal device, and means whereby to move the second contact intoengagement with the irst contact incident to the passage ot a trainalong said rails.

9,. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intendedto be attached to or removed from track forming relation with otherelectric track sections in the usual manner, said section being made upof spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated third railwith cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanicallyconnected together tor unitary handling, the third rail being adapted tocarry one side of an electric train circuit and at least one of thewheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of saidcircuit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuousfrom end to end of the toy section adapted thereby tor continuouspropulsion of a train over said section, means by which to electricallyconnect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third railand with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side ot thecircuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt withthe c track circuit, and control means for said shunt circuit comprisinga relatively stationary contact, a relatively movable Contact and meansin addition to said rails adapted to be engaged by a passing car wheelfor moving the movable Contact into engagement with the stationaryContact.

3. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intendedto lbe attached to or removed from track 'forming relation with otherelectric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being madeup of seaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediate insulated thirdrail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails are mechanicallyconnected together for unitary handling, the third rail being adapted tocarry one side of an electric train circuit and at least one of thewheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of saidcircuit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuousfrom end to end of the toy section adapted thereby for continuouspropulsion of a train over sai; section, means by which to electricallyconnect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third railand with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side of thecircuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shunt withthe track circuit, and control means tor said shunt circuit comprising aspring contact member arranged at one side of one of the rails normallyout of electrical connection with said rail but being disposed to beactuated by tie weight ot a car part passing along said rail for beingflexed into direct electrical connection with said rail.

Il. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track section intendedto be attached to or removed from track forming relation with otherelectric toy track sections in the usual manner, said section being madeup of spaced wheel bearing` rails and an intermediate insulated Jrhirdrail with crosstie means by which all or" the rails are mechanicallyconnected together 'for unitary handling, the third rail being adaptedto carry one side of an electric tra-in circuit and at least one of thewheel bearing rails being adapted to carry the opposite side of saidcirciiit, said two mentioned rails each being electrically continuousfrom end to end of the toy section adapt-ed thereby for continuouspropulsion of a train over said section, means by which to electricallyconnect an electrically operable device in circuit with the third railand with the wheel bearing rail carrying the opposite side of thecircuit to thereby put said electrically operable device in shuntwiththe track circuit, and control means for said shunt circuit comprising aspring Contact member normally in off position but arranged to beactuated into on position by the flange of a car wheel passing along oneof the rails of the section.

5. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, aninsulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected'with thepower rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which toelectrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with thepower rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put saidelectrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and acontrol switch included in said connecting means normally in offposition but adapted to be actuated into on position by a passing train,said control switch including a movable contact, and a support for saidmovable contact mounted upon two of said rails and serving to hold themovable contact in position to be moved by the flange of a car wheeltravelling along one ot the rails upon which the support is mounted.

6. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearingrails, aninsulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with thepower rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, all of said railsbeing electrically continuous adapted thereby for continuous propulsionof a train, a support having a pair oit' wire terminals thereon,conductor means providing for electrical connection between the powerrail and one wire terminal, conductor means providing for electricalconnection between the mentioned wheel bearing rail and the other wireterminal, and a movable switch element included in one of said conductormeans mov able into on and ed positions incident to the uninterruptedmovement of a train.

7. ln a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, aninsulatedl power rail, and a source of electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and acontrol switch included in said connecting means having a spring contactpart extending normally spaced above a part of one of said railsbutdepressible by the weight of a passing train into electrical connectionwith said rail part.

8. In a toy electric railroad made up of a plurality of toy tracksections connected together end to end, each section comprising spacedwheel bearing rails and an insulated intermediate power rail togetherwith cross ties extending between said rails to which the rails areattached, a source of electric energ` having one side electricallyconnected with the power rail and having its other side electricallyconnected with the wheel bearing rails, connecting means by which toelectrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with thepower rail and wif. h one of the wheel bearing rails to thereby pnt saidelectrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means including a resiliently movable contact memberpositioned adjacent to one of said rails adapted to be moved inc-identto the passage ot' a train along the track and to eiiect operation ofsaid electrically operable device as the result of said movement, and aninsulating support other than the cross ties, said insulatingsupportserving to support said Contact member and utilizing the powerrail and at least one of the wheel bearing rails to hold the contactmember spaced Jfrom the remainder of the structure.

9. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails, aninsulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected with thepower rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by which toelectrically connect an eleclrically operable device in circuit with thepower rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby put saidelectrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, and saidconnecting means including a movable part normally spaced from one otsaid rails thereby holding said shunt circuit open but said movable partbeing disposed to be moved into engagement with said rail incident topassage of a train to thereby effect a closing of said .shunt circuit.

l0. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means including` a movable contact movable into and out ofcircuit closing position, and said contact being electrically conn-ectedwith one of said rails and extending to adjacent another of said railsin position to be engaged and moved into circuit closing position by acar part passing along said second rail.

1l. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one of the wheel bearino' rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means including a movable contact movable into and out ofcircuit closing position, said contact being electrically connected withone of said rails and said contact having a member of insulatingmaterial constituting an extension thereof projecting into position tobe engaged and moved by a car part passing along another of said railsthereby to move said Contact into circuit closing position.

l2. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means including twocontact members normally spaced apart tohold said shunt circuit open, and one of said contact members beingelectrically connected with one of said rails and having a springy partprojecting into posit-ion adjacent another of said 'rails so as to beengaged and moved into circuit closing position against the otherVcontact by a. car part passing along said second rail.

' 18. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source ofelectric energy connected withthe power rail and with one ofthe wheel bearing rails, l'means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operay,

ble device in circuit with the power rail and with the mentioned vwheelbearing rail to Vthereby put said electrically operable device in shuntwith ,the track circuit, said. connecting means including two contactmembers4 normally spaced apart to hold said shunt circuit open, and oneof said contact members being electrically connectedwith the power railand having a springy part projecting into position against one of thewheel bearing rails so as to be engaged and moved; into circuit closingposition against lthe other contact by the flange 'of a car wheelrolling along said wheel bearing rail.

14. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source ot electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one of the wheel bearing rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means including a Contact member carried in in-v sulatedrelation upon one of said rails and having a movable part movable intoelectrical engagement with said carrying rail incident to the passage ofa car part along said carrying rail.

15. In a toy electric railroad, comprising spaced wheel bearing rails,an insulated power rail, and a source of electric energy connected withthe power rail and with one ot the wheel bearing rails, means by whichto electrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit withthe power rail and with the mentioned wheel bearing rail to thereby putsaid electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit, saidconnecting means' including a Contact member carried in insulatedrelation upon one of said wheel bearing rails and having a movable partmovable into electrical engagement with said carl ryi-ng rail by beingengaged by a wheel of a passing train.

16'. As an article of manufacture, an electric toy track sectionintended to be attached I to or removed from track forming relation withother electric toy track sections in the usual manner, said sectionbeing made up of spaced wheel bearing rails and an intermediateinsulated power rail with cross-tie means by which all of the rails aremechanically connected together or unitary handling,4 means by which toelectrically connect an electrically operable device in circuit with thepower rail and one of the wheel bearing rails of the section to therebyput said electrically operable device in shunt with the track circuit,and control means for said shunt circuit comprising an elongated stripof material extending lengthwise of the section in the space between thepower rail and one of the wheel bearing rails in position to be engagedby a car part passing along the rails of the section, and there beingtwo separate resilient supports by which said strip is mounted to beresiliently yieldable under engagement by said car part, said twosupports being spaced apart one engaging each end portion of the stripand each having engagement with the adjacent end portion of the sectionto hold the strip in operative position upon the section.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. LGESSFORD HANDY.

